Dd hasn't got a place at SN school, what do i do now?

[Marne]

Yesterday we thought dd2 had a place at the SN school as the MS school told me dd2 had been taken off the list of children starting in September. Today a letter came saying dd2 has not got a place but will be able to use outreach services in a MS school. I now have to decide:

1. to put dd2 into main stream with her statement of 30 hours support and see how she gets on. This will mean both dd's will be in the same class as the school are combinding 3 year groups into one class.

2. i could keep dd2 in nursery for a while (either just for a term or for most of the year) and then put her into ms school or try again for sn school next year.

3. Home educate her.

So bloody confussed, i dont know what to do for the best .

Sorry to hear that Marne.
I dont know what to suggest. Do you think SN school is the best place for your DD?

Oh Marne, I'm sorry.

What do yu want most ofr your dd? Are you worried about putting her into the MS school?

30 hours does sound good, but I wouldn't like 3 years combined for my dd.

How old os your dd? Be careful aboutkee[ping her outof year, as then when she goes next year she will have to go into Yr1. I know htis makes no difference for this school year, as all the years are combined, but might have a knock on at a future point when she has to move outof that clas, iyswim?

she doesn't, of course, legally have to be in school until term after her 5th birthday, but take care, as outlined above.

Could you argue successfully (thinking of at Tribunal) that the MS school is not appropriate for your dd?

I really don't know (sorry, sat here crying).

I don't feel our local village school is the place for her even though they have been really supportive. I can't picture dd2 in a class full of 4-7 year olds, she climbs furniture, she can not follow instructions, she doesn't understand rules and has very poor speech.
Her sister has had a tough time at school as she has AS, i don't want dd1 getting picked on because of dd2's ASD. Dd2 is still in nappies which worries me, although its not the end of the world its another thing that makes her different.

The school have already started looking at security and putting new gates on the playground to keep her safe which is great.

If she goes to the MS school i will spend every day worrying about her and her safety as well as the stress it could cause dd1 and i don't think i can cope with that .

Well, don't want to sound negative, but my DD (who sounds similar to your DD2) was in a split level class of 3/5 year olds this year and it was a disaster for her. She also has communication/comprehension difficulties and really struggled with two sets of work, two sets of children. OTOH she didn't have 30 hours of provision: she had 9, which was nowhere near enough.
We have been lucky: she has a place in a special unit next year.
I really hope you can get something sorted out. Perhaps you need to fight for special school? (I'm not in the UK so I have no idea how possible this is).
Sending {hugs} as this sounds v. stressful
Brio
x

I understand your concerns re: dd1, but I don't think that owuld count as good reasoning to the LA.

would your dd2 understand that although her sister is in the same room, she is not to play with her all the time (if they play together) or pester her, rely on her etc? That is osmething you could make out was too confusing for dd2 (if that is the case)

Have you spoken to your case officer about htis?

And have you spoken to the SN school? do you know they are full for Sept? What is their turnover (ie, do they often have children for a yearor so before moving them on to units/MS etc) - would a place comeupin YR1 for your dd?

Ime, it makes little difference (as long as you have anoption for dd2 for this year) if a child joins a SN in Yr 1 and misses reception, as school so used ot differentiating anyway. But the same isnot true of MS, where after reception pace picks up quite a bit.

I know exactly how you are feeling - last Sept we learnt that LA named a pre-school for dd1 inher statement (she should have been going into Yr1!) adn I was gutted.

You canget through this, but I know how devastating it can be, and I know well about the worry aspect of it - it looked at one point like tbe LA was going to put dd into MS (she is ina SN school, with full 1-to-1 tuition)

I'm sorry to hear that, Marne.

I would not put your DD into a situation that you think she cannot cope with. 30 hours support could work in MS, but if you have reservations about it, don't compromise.

What is your case manager suggesting as a placement? Is there still a place for her at the MS, if she has been taken off the list?

If they do name the MS place and you're not happy with it, you can appeal and argue that it is not appropriate. If there is a lot of professional opinion supporting a placement at SN school, you'll have a strong case.

Silverfrog - Dd2 has very poor understanding, she doesn't understand 'no' so would not understand not to go near dd1. Dd1 is very protective of dd2 so i will also have the problem of dd1 not leaving dd2 alone. I havn't spoken to the case officer yet, i havn't even told DH yet (although he wont be much help). Her nursery has offered her a place for next year if she needs it (they have been great).

I think because dd2 is showing signs of being years ahead with reading, writing etc they seem to think she will cope in MS, they dont seem to realize that dd2 can not follow instructions and will not do as she's told, she can't dress herself, is not toilet trained and has melt downs with the slightest change in routine.

Just spoke to dd2's SALT and she has told me to phone a few people to get advice (i need to calm down first). I have the HV coming in 20 minutes to talk about nappies so i need to sort myself out before she gets here.

I will phone the case worker and see if we can appeal.

I just don't know how much fight i have got left.

Marne, I am so sorry to hear about this, but as the others say this is not necessarily the final word.
I think you can make a case that what they offer is inadequate to meet your child's needs. If the school you wanted has turned you down they would have had to justify their decision, and you have a right to see their letter/report.
Can you think of another school you would be happy with? That can be a private school if necessary - this may involve going to tribunal.
Right now you are exhausted and disappointed; give yourself some time to regroup and think about your next move.

Did you get any explanation, Marne?

No real explanation lou, just that they think she will be ok in MS with full support.

sc13- i havn't looked at any other schools, there are not many in our area and all the good schools are full, most of the schools in the nearest town our private. The is a Speach and language unit but this is 20 miles away and doesn't really deal with ASD children.

I am going to try and call an emergancy meeting with the SENCO and head of the MS school tomorrow to see what they intend to do to keep dd2 safe. I am worried as the playground is not enclosed, its joint onto the huge playing field which has a wire fence around it (so dd2 would be in a very large space), at the moment dd2 is in to eating plants, she could easily pick up something that could harm her. The school gates are always left open and the school is pretty much open plan (how are they going to stop her from moving from room to room?

We have a ASD school near us but they only take children from 7 years and it borders only.

Marne, I feel for you. We were in a similar dilemma when we looked around MS schools. I remember well seeing the look in the teachers' faces. They were thinking "isn't our school great with its free-flow setup and open space?"

I was thinking "How on earth are they going to keep DD1 in the classroom? Look at the playground - there are 3 linked together with a flight of steps! That gate is open. There is a woodland trail completely out of sight....etc, etc."

Are you going to take along a list of areas of concern? Off the top of my head, for DD1 it would have been:

Open-plan classrooms

Gates to car parks and exits of school

Ensuring DD can't slip out at busy times such as end-of-day pick-up.

Safety at lunch and break times.

Also, school day is 8.50-3.30? Thats around 32.5 hours. Are the school going to fill the missing 2.5 hours?

Is the statement water-tight about lunch and break cover?

Marne

Don't give up; there are a few options yet

Part time? DS3 went part time for 2 terms.
LEA funded independent? They can you know, they won't like it but they can (and do)

lou, i'm trying to write all my concerns down so i can present them to the school, thank you for your list, i think mine will be very similar.

Sancti- luckily the school has them on half days until just before x-mas, maybe i could extend it further?.

The statement says '30 hours support to be used when the school feels its needed most' (so this could be break times). I'm guessing there will be times during the day when she does not need 1:1 support (such as indoor play/craft as she will happily sit and do something that she likes).

MArbne beware- our sachool has fought against break supervision, even though most needed, as it affects thir staffing rotas ('our TA's need a break you know Mrs P; youa re causing us a HR headache')

Yes, I have heard that it is very tricky getting lunch cover, because it is seen as 'non-contact time' ie. It doesn't form part of the 23 ish hours of 'education' the school has to provide.

If i have too i would take her out for lunch, is this possible?

Yes, but a bad idea; if you absolve them of responsibility thewn they will jump at it but what happens if you are ill, or worked or...... there would be no system present

Does a 1:1/support have to be trained or have any experience or could it be anyone?

My neighbour (who is close to dd2) has suggested that she could be dd2's support worker, i'm not really sure what to make of this, is it a good idea having someone that knows dd2 being her support worker at school?

Depends what teh statement specifies; a statement specifying training is by far best

My list is getting longer .

Statement say's that the support/1:1 should have experience of PEC'S and some training.